Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue
state, has rejected the plan of the federal government to set up farm
settlements for herdsmen.

Speaking through Terver Akase,
his chief press secretary, Ortom described the initiative as an insult to the
people of Benue.

He said the federal government is
planning to establish settlements in Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum local government
areas in the state despite the opposition of his administration.

He said it is a “gross violation”
to the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law 2017 being
implemented in the state.

Ortom said he had made it known
at different fora that Benue will not support a policy which contravenes its
law.

He said the state government is
willing to support cattle owners to establish ranches as provided by the law,
insisting that the state “has no land for grazing reserves, grazing routes,
cattle colonies or ruga settlements.”

“A few weeks ago, the director,
federal ministry of agriculture with his team in Benue state informed officials
of the state ministry of agriculture that he had received directives from the
ministry’s headquarters Abuja to establish Ruga which means ‘Fulani settlement’
in parts of the state,” he said in a statement.

“The permanent secretary, Benue
state ministry of agriculture drew the attention of the director and his team
to the open grazing prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 being implemented
in the state. When they were also reminded about the Land Use Act which confers
on the governor the powers to administer lands in all parts of the state,
officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture left with a promise to relay
the message to their headquarters. They surprisingly returned a few days later
with contractors to commence work on the Ruga settlements.

“During the National Council on
Agriculture summit which took place in Owerri, Imo State in April this year,
the Federal Ministry of Agriculture attempted to impose Ruga settlement
patterns on the states but the Benue state delegation seized the opportunity to
remind the summit that Benue State has a law on ranching which has phased out
open grazing. No one at the summit put forth an alternative method of animal
husbandry to counter the state’s presentation.

“It could also be recalled that
the National Economic Council, NEC, had also unanimously adopted ranching as
the best method of livestock breeding for the country. It is therefore shocking
to see the Federal Government turning round to establish Fulani herdsmen
settlements in some states including Benue, contrary to the position of NEC.

“We wish to remind those pushing
for Ruga settlements that the Constitution of the country gives states the
right to make laws for the governance of their people. Any attempt to subvert
such right is a direct attack on the Constitution. Those behind such a move are
enemies of peace and progress.

“The Government of Benue State is
willing to support cattle owners to establish ranches as stipulated by the law
prohibiting open grazing.”